Gov. Greg Abbott says the far-reaching election reform law he signed earlier this week is about "trust and confidence" in the state's elections system, not about preventing people from voting.
According to ABC News, the new law will ban 24-hour and drive-through voting sites, as well as make it a felony offense for election officials to send mail-in ballots to residents who do not formally request them. The law also expands early voting hours in counties with 55,000 or more residents.
Abbott "made election integrity an emergency item" during last spring's legislative session, and the first two of three special sessions, to ensure that trust and confidence, a statement issued by his office said.
"Senate Bill 1 ensures trust and confidence in our elections system — and most importantly, it makes it easier to vote and harder to cheat," Abbott said in the statement issued the same day he signed SB 1. "Safe and secure elections are critical to the foundation of our state."
In a separate Twitter post, Abbott thanked SB 1 authors Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Tyler) and Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction), who were with the governor at the signing ceremony in Tyler.
"This law will make it easier to vote and harder to cheat in the Lone Star State," Abbott said in his Twitter post.
SB 1 had a rough road to passage, according to Houston Daily, that included quorum breaks by Democrat lawmakers, three months of Republican wrangling and two special sessions, but the legislation finally passed the state legislature and was sent to Abbott on Sept. 1.
"One thing that all Texans can agree [on], and that is that we must have trust and confidence in our elections," Abbott said during SB 1's signing ceremony. "The bill that I'm about to sign helps to achieve that goal."
The bill is set to take effect on Dec. 2.
Two federal lawsuits were filed over the legislation before Abbott signed it, Texas Tribune reported, claiming SB 1 violates the Voting Rights, Civil Rights, and Americans with Disabilities and Rehabilitation acts, in addition to the First, 14th and 15th amendments.